TOP 10 THINGS TO DO ON A TRIP TO CANCUN
If you like good weather, sandy beaches, turquoise sea and good atmosphere, Cancún is the perfect place for your vacation.
Cancún is located on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. You can explore the incredibly beautiful Riviera Maya south of Cancun, home to all-inclusive resorts, Theme Parks and major Mayan archeological sites.
This area offers plenty of activities such as sunset catamaran cruises, windsurfing adventures and swimming with whale sharks. Exploring the Garrafon Natural Reef Park on Isla Mujeres by kayaking and snorkeling is another activity you can enjoy while admiring the stunning natural beauty of the Riviera Maya.
To learn more about the rich cultural and historical heritage of the Maya civilization, visit the ruins of San Miguelito, the Maya Museum and the El Rey archaeological site near the Cancun airport.
Family Entertainment Ventura Park and Xel-Ha Park with their interesting mangrove tours are just two of dozens of adventure parks on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. You can enjoy a zipline ride, rafting with friends, explore the sights or take your children to the children’s world.
After a day out and about, relax in the evening at Parque las Palapas, the central park in downtown Cancún. Cancún’s nightlife is also great. We recommend visiting the famous nightclub Coco Bongo, with musical performances and acrobats.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN CANCUN
Here are our picks for the top 10 things to do in Cancun that deserve to be in any travel guide to this Caribbean paradise. You can learn more at Odigoo Travel: A Guide to Cancun’s Best Ecotourism Activities and Things to Do
1. VISIT CANCUN’S BEST BEACHES
Exploring the white sand beaches is one of the best things to do when visiting Cancún. Playa Delfines is the largest beach located near the hotel area of Cancún. It’s also known for its colorful Cancun sign, a hot spot for Instagrammers.
You can also visit Playa Norte on Isla Mujeres where you can rent a golf cart to explore the area. Playa Maroma is known for its turquoise waters and Playa X’cacel is the ideal place to see sea turtles.
Just an hour’s drive south of Cancun in the Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen has some of the most beautiful beaches for sunbathing and strolling along Quinta Avenida, their version of New York’s Fifth Avenue.
We recommend purchasing a beach club day pass so you can relax by the view of the Caribbean Sea and pamper all your senses.
2. DISCOVER AMAZING SEA LIFE ON YOUR TRIP TO CANCUN
Cancún’s impressive coral reefs belong to the Mesoamerican Reef System. This is the second largest barrier reef in the world, stretching from Isla Contoy to Honduras.
The best way to explore Cancún’s reefs is to book one of the guided snorkeling tours. Local English-speaking guides can take you to the best snorkeling spots in Cancun, including Punta Nizuc, Puerto Morelos, and Cozumel.
Cancún’s coral reefs are a bit far from the public beaches, but the amazing marine life is worth seeing.
3. DIVE CLOSE TO AMAZING UNDERWATER SCULPTURES
To protect coral reefs, artist Jason deCaires Taylor created an alternative diving site in 2010. At a depth of 3 to 10 meters, 500 sculptures were towed into the sea, divided into three galleries.
In addition to the basic human figures, the Musa Underwater Museum contains entire scenes from everyday life and a Volkswagen battle car.
You can visit this incredible underwater museum from a glass-windowed submarine or on diving tours that start from the Nichupte lagoon and lead out to sea.
4. JOIN THE MEXICAN JOURNEY
For those who want to learn more about Mexican tradition and folklore, visiting Xoximilco and taking an unforgettable gondola ride is a must. This is one of the most fun things to do in Cancun and a great nightlife option.
A local host will entertain you and your party with fun games and exciting stories. You can sample authentic Mexican dishes such as tacos while sipping beer or tequila at the open bar.
The musicians will create a great atmosphere so you can dance and sing to different genres of Mexican music during the 3-hour party.
5. FIND GOOD MAYAN RUINS
Chichen Itza is one of the most important Mayan cities, located on the Yucatan peninsula near Valladolid. A day trip from Cancun to Chichen Itza is a great way to learn about the impressive Mayan civilization.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, you will see the ruins of the Temple of Warriors, the Pyramid of Osario, stone sculptures and a well-preserved ball court from ancient times. The Temple of Kukulkan (El Castillo) is the central and most famous building of this archaeological site, with more than 2 million visitors a year.
Due to its rich cultural and historical heritage, Chichen Itza was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.
6. DISCOVER THE TULUM RUINS ON THE ROAD TO CANCUN
The Tulum Ruins are one of Mexico’s most famous ancient sites due to their fantastic location. This coastal fortress stands on a cliff above the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea.
In Tulum you can see several ancient sites such as the Temple of the Descending God and the Temple of the Frescoes. Don’t be surprised if you also see giant iguanas around the ruins.
You can get to Tulum by taking day trips from Cancun or other popular places in the Riviera Maya, such as Playa del Carmen. After visiting the Tulum ruins, you can go to the beach below the cliff and swim in the Caribbean Sea.
7. SWIM IN THE OPEN WATERS OF THE MEXICO CENOTES ON THE ROAD TO CANCUN
Cenotes are deep natural pools. Underground rivers that flowed from a vast cave system were the only source of clear water for the ancient Maya. The Mayans also used cenotes as spiritual places. There are 142 cenotes to visit on the Yucatan Peninsula. You can find them in different sizes and shapes.
The most popular cenotes are Ik Kil and Suytun in Chichen Itza and Cenote Xkeke with its unique cave decorations. You can also visit the Zac cenote in Valladolid and the Samula underground cenote, which has a hole in the roof through which light illuminates the turquoise water.
There are also daylight-less underground cenotes. Some can be found near the Coba ruins, such as Tamchach-Ha and Multum-Ha.
8. XPLOR IS AN ADVENTURE TRAVELERS PARADISE
Xplor is a phenomenal adventure park just an hour from Cancun. It is world famous for its 14 zip lines, the highest in the Riviera Maya and the most popular zip line in Mexico.
You can also experience a variety of exciting activities such as underground rafting, splashing around in a hammock and amazing road adventures in amphibious vehicles – a kind of ATV – through the jungle and flooded caves.
The Xplor Theme Park ticket price also includes unlimited drinks, buffet lunch and full equipment for the chosen activity.
9. ENJOY WATER SPORTS IN THE LARGE XCARET PARK
The Xcaret theme park is one of the biggest attractions in the Riviera Maya. It is located between Playa del Carmen and Tulum, just 70 km south of Cancun. With many natural and cultural attractions, Xcaret Park is an excellent choice for an all-day family vacation.
At this beautiful eco and Water Park, you can explore underground rivers and cenotes, a Mayan village, several natural pools, caves and beaches, as well as jungle trails and a coral reef aquarium.
Swimming with marine life and dolphins, speed boat rides, snorkelling and wine tasting are available, but at an additional cost. We also recommend attending the “Xcaret at Night” live show to learn about Mexican folk dances.
10. BUY INTERESTING LOCAL PRODUCTS AT MERCADO 28
More than 600 stands with different products await you at Mercado 28, a huge market in downtown Cancun.
Don’t rush your purchase. Allow enough time to look around as many stalls as possible. Local vendors offer you clothing, handicrafts, jewellery, pottery, wood and a variety of colorful products.
You can buy quality products at a very reasonable price if you know how to bargain and practice your Spanish.
Now you can start learning Spanish with Rosetta Stone. Plan your classes to fit your schedule and get moving and have interesting conversations with the locals as you travel through Mexico. Check out their different plans and lifetime specials here.